If you ever find yourself contemplating what holidays for singles in the Philippines would be like, don’t try the obvious route to Manila, the country’s capital. Too passé and populated. One vacation spot that is quickly gaining popularity among single males is Cebu City, the country’s first capital.
Located on the southern part of the Philippines, the capital of Cebu Island is not what you would call a spectacular tourist haven. But it is this shortcoming that also makes it such an ideal singles holiday spot.
The people are friendly, the taxi drivers trustworthy. The beaches are not touristy (yet), and most other attraction sites are uncontaminated. It’s a vibrant, fast-paced city, but getting around is easy. It lives up to (even exceeds) the marketing pamphlets’ hype.
As a norm, the women are so genuine and charming they will steal your heart. And best of all, those extortionist prices for everything from a simple drink to accommodation are yet to find their way here. In a word, Cebu is c’est beau (two words actually).
Dating Women in Cebu
What Women in Cebu are Like
When it comes to women in Philippines, it’s an acknowledged fact that it’s easiest to find the most beautiful, polite, and fun-loving Filipinas in Cebu than in the other big cities. While they are not the most voluptuous girls in the world, their beauty is untarnished and they are known for treating men (especially foreigners) like royalty.
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Most of these Virgin Mary types will want to know if you’re married, and it’s just a way of telling if they can forge a relationship with you. In case you’re interested, they take loyalty on their part as an oath (the unbreakable old-fashioned kind). But if marriage isn’t on your radar, hovering around the smaller towns and villages should guarantee a catch or two (even for free) you’ll wonder if you really are in Asia.
Best Places to meet Women in Cebu
Nightlife in Cebu is a haven for the single male. Things start rocking right after 8pm and pound till the morning during the weekends or until 3am on weekdays.
When it comes to nightlife, three ways you can have a swell time, depending on your preferences: bars and lounges, clubs, and sporting houses.
It’s common knowledge that bars and clubs are the go-to spots for picking up women, regardless of the place. So on top of guaranteed women, the following are some of the spots you can be guaranteed a good time:
The Bars
The bar concept hasn’t really caught on in Cebu and watering holes where you can just enjoy your drink with quiet conversation aren’t a very common feature. But they are more than sufficient to make your stay worth the while. They include:
- The El Gecko Restobar which offers amazing international delicacies.
- The Vine City Wine Bar & Restaurant across the bridge in neighboring Mactan Island is perfect for those nights when you need a more laidback atmosphere to go with servings of pasta, steak, salads and a great wine selection.
- The Jazz n Bluz offers a more sophisticated ambience and doesn’t close until the last customer leaves.
- The incredible Sinners and Saints Retrobar on Banilad Road is a must. This one has barmen dressed up as devils and the bargirls as cute angels, with great local live bands to complement the food.
By the way, Filipinos love karaoke more than anyone else. So don’t be shocked if a mic is shoved in your hand. Just go and belt out your tunes because Cebuanas – and Filipinos in general – aren’t judgmental when it comes to karaoke.
The Clubs
As with the bars, Cebu doesn’t flaunt hundreds of clubs like other bigger metros, but that is not to mean there is a shortage. Some of the hippest happening joints in town include:
- The Distillery: Located on Banilad Road, The Distillery is a harbor for party animals and liquor connoisseurs where the in vogue go to hang out. There is an abundance of imported alcoholic beverages ranging from beers to hard liquors whose names you can’t even wrap your tongue around.
- LIV Super Club: It may not be Club LIV in Miami where hiphop stars hang out but the Cebu version is resolute on maintaining a similar stature. It is humongous and you have to be frisked twice before gaining entry into the largest luxury club in Cebu. You’ll part with an entrance fee but oddly, most drinks are less costly than in other less posh establishments.
- Alchology: Alchology is one of those clubs in every city in the world that may not have the best crowd or the best music, but are famous for getting it on any day of the week, Mondays included. There are no pretensions here and admission and drinks are pocket-friendly.
- DEN (Cebu IT Park): The name itself betrays the type of crowd you’re likely to find here – younger, trendier, richer demographic. The glitzy high-end club is unparalleled in terms of best music and often has the sickest DJs (local or international) manning the decks.
But if you want to cut to the chase and let the green do the talking, Cebu is not short of pleasure houses. Go ahead and promote the tourism and local economy.
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The Bordellos
Holidays for singles in Cebu aren’t complete without a taste of the city’s best asset, Cebu girls.
When hunting for the best crop, you have an ample selection of Go-Go Bars from which to choose the best cut. Mango Avenue is the red-light district in Cebu and a cab should get you there pronto. But beware of the pimps who’re out to fleece you.
Arranged in no particular order, you should spot Temptations, BG Bikini Bar (BG’s), Viking Mango Bar (Vikings), J Ave, Planet X, Eric the Red, Sisters, Love City and Dimples. The number of houses on the street is quadruple this, but these will give you value for your buck.
The girls are not racist, only preferring the green, and it’s fairly cheap – $35–70 a pop, save for those at Club Tokyo who strictly cater to Japanese/ Korean.
The experienced should know houses of ill repute fall out of favor regularly so the advice is to have a quick drink in 2 or 3 as you survey the hottest peaches ready to attend to His Majesty’s every whim.
Other Ways to meet Women in Cebu
Malls are other great places to source some fresh cuts, and in particular the sprawling SM and Ayala malls stand out. Whether inside or out, there is a lot of action going on around those malls. The perv in you should avoid girls your conscience thinks are underage because that right there is jail bait.
Robinson’s Mall is another great hookup spot where you’ll have the hotties swooning over you, night or day.
The famed Cebu IT Park is another hideout for girls and a perfect place to lay the traps. Classy, working (non-sex jobs) women hang out around here often. These ones will expect more, so it’s good to arm yourself with a bit of Filipino culture. If she’s into you, this will be triple kill for you: get laid, win her heart, and girls in Cebu have been known to spoil men with gifts.
You can also meet beautiful Cebuanas on online dating sites. A great idea is to start chatting with them before you arrive and meet with them face to face once you are in Cebu.
Fun Things to Do in Cebu
There is more to Cebu than just beautiful women, bars and clubs.
The island is regarded as one of the most stunning in the world thanks to its amazing sun, turquoise waters, white-powdered sands, and clear-blue skies. To get the most out of it, however, you’ll need to get out of the city.
But that shouldn’t be an inconvenience because it’s strategically positioned as a launch base. Whether you want to go by road, biking to your destination or try a new experience by taking a ferry, Cebu gives you options.
Here then, are some top activities to add more spice to your memorable sojourn.
Beaches
The beaches of Cebu are what you would call the perfect epitome of sprawling white sands with inviting turquoise waters.
The best beaches are just a few hours’ drive from the city (average 2 hours) and the ones that are definitely worth a look include: Moalboal, Dalaguete, Aloguinsan, Liloan, Danao, Minglanilla, and Bantayan.
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
Cebu offers a lot of great diving places (cheap ones at that) which range from coral reefs to shipwrecks. And in case you always wanted an Open Water Diver Certificate, then you’re gracing one of the cheapest places you can get one in South East Asia.
For the best snorkeling experience, try the neighboring island of Olango (and its 6 small satellite islands) where you can also observe migratory birds.
Xtreme Rides
You remember Robinson’s Mall, right? Standing just a few blocks away is the tallest building in the city, the Crown Regency Cebu.
You can get a 360-degree view of the island from atop, and if you’re a thrill junkie, the aptly-named Sky Experience Adventure is just the place to feel the rush. You can take the zip wire which suspends you 473ft off the ground as you ‘fly’ from Tower 1 to Tower 3, or the rollercoaster-like Edge Coaster ride which gets you around the rim of the building (on the 41st floor).
All for just a reasonable fee.
Sinulog Festival
On the third Sunday of January every year, one of the grandest festivals in the Philippines brings people from all corners of the country to the shores of Cebu. This is basically a thanksgiving event to honor the Santa Niño, the oldest deity in the Philippines.
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Massages
Cebu City is not short of massage parlors and spas with top-notch therapists. You can even throw in a little more for ‘extra service’, but this will depend on the place.
Some of the most outstanding Cebu parlors are Alibyo Boutique Spa, Prana Medispa, Yo-Bi Spa, Nuat Thai Foot & Body Massage, Wat Pho Traditional Thai Massage, Mont Albo Massage Hut, and the Café Tiala.
Sport
Soccer is quite popular in the Philippines, but probably not as much as basketball. It’s hard to walk down a street and not find a hoop.
You can play or watch matches via satellite in the bars. The Banilad Sports Club (non-membership) is a perfect place to enjoy some tennis.
Must Try Food in Cebu
Lechon
Cebu is home to the tastiest lechon in the Philippines, a popular dish that involves slow-roasting suckling pigs (piglets?) over a fire for hours. The end product is a sumptuous, tender serving that’s crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside.
Sutukil
Another native must-have dish, Sutukil is the ultimate seafood experience in Cebu.
The name is actually a synonym for three dishes: the Sugba (mostly grilled fish), Tula (a vegetable soup), and Kilaw (raw fish soaked in vinegar containing ginger, onions, tomatoes and lemons). The Sutukil experience involves buying the seafood raw and fresh before having an eatery prepare it for you.
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Ribs at Casa Verde
Casa Verde is a chain of restaurants scattered across the city and famous for offering the best baked pork ribs splattered with a sweet, tangy piquet sauce. It’s a best seller and taboo to leave Cebu without trying them out, vegan or not (probably not the vegan).
How to Get to Cebu
There are various ways you can gain entry to the city.
By Plane
If you’re flying from abroad, flying in is the most convenient. You will touch down at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport which is located just 15km east of the city.
By Boat
If time is on your side, you can take a boat which is a popular alternative given the city is the busiest domestic port in the Philippines, holding a little less than 80 percent of the nation’s passenger vessels.
A search on Expedia should give you an idea where to catch a flight depending on your location.
Where to Stay in Cebu
The best places for visitors to stay are centered around two locations:
Near Ayala Mall
You’ll rarely find better accommodation than in the vicinity of Ayala Mall: clean, great amenities, secure, proximity to hangout joints, and easy and cheap to get around. All this at affordable prices.
Fuente Osmena
There are many hotels to choose from in Fuente area, a very decent place unrivaled for its proximity to the nightlife spots (and great amenities), yet the accommodation has managed to remain reasonably low over the years.
There are hundreds of hotels in these two locations. Find a good hotel using Booking.com. For comfortable and affordable hotels in Cebu we recommend:
Cebu as a destination holiday for single men is a fantastic paradise. There are so many unbelievable attractions to enjoy at reasonable prices it may sound like a lie when you do get back home and tell your tales. Couple that with beautiful Filipinas and you’ll get to savor what a tropical paradise would actually feel like – right here on earth.
Have you been to Cebu? What are your thoughts on it for a singles holiday?